X. Carolina Legislature
SENATE. v ,
Monday, Nov. 15.
A quorum of the members
being present, the Senate was
organized, and the following of
ficers appointed, viz: Bartlett
Yancey, Esq. Speaker; Benja
min II. Covington, Clerk; James
W. Clark, Assistant Clerk; and
Messrs. Wheeler and Ray,
Doorkeepers.
0:i motion of Mr. Speight, a
committee was appointed to
draw up Rules of Order for the
government of the Senate.
On motion of the same gen
tleman, a message was sent to
the House of Commons, inform
ing them of the organization of
the Senate.
Tuesday, Nov. 16.
A message was received from
the II. of Commons, proposing
that a select joint committee he
appointed to wait on the Gover
nor and inform him of the read
iness of the Legislature to re
re ivo anv communication Iron)
him which he
make to them.
may have toi
The message!
was agreed to. Ti
was agreed to. 1 he committee
. , - .. r u
consisted of the following gen-
. ' p.,
iiemen, viz: on ine pari oi me
House of Commons, Messi
Polk, R. II. Jones and Scott;
from the Senate, Messrs. Car
son, Speight, and Shober.
Messrs. Forney, Wclborn and
Seawell were appointed a com
mittee in conjunction with
Messrs. llclme, Williamson and
Baily of the other House, to pre
pare joint rules of order for the
government of the two Houses.
Mr. Carson, from the com
mittee appointed to wait on the
Governor, reported that he
would make his communication
on to-morrow 12 o'clock.
Wednesday, Nov. 17.
In accordance with the mes
sage from the House of Com
i . . -tl i
mons, a select joint committee
was appointed to suggest some
imitnrm mnrio inr thr "w nt
.... ,
ihe two nouses, composea oi
,T r, oi tt .i
Messrs. Cox. Skinner, Mathews,
1, j'r- r u ti
Cherry and Bain of the House
J - c at o , t '
Vanhook, Wellborn and
'
M,
"I
Leod, of. the Senate.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
monaay, v.ov. ,
Monday, Nov. 15.
uuu ..ui u.uu .u 'S-:a
members being present the
House was orgniMd by thoap-,
pointmentofAlfredJ oore.Ksq.:
as Speaker; Pleasant Hender-I
m i rnu i ir I I
son,-Clerk; and Charles Manlv,'
Clerk Assistant. John Lums-
den and Richard Roberts were
appointed Doorkeepers.
On motion of Mr. Hill, oft
Nfiw-IIanovpr. a writ nf pW-
tion was issued to the Sheriff of
Brunswick county, command
ing him to hold an election on
the second day of December, to
elect a Representative to the
Legislature from that county, in
the place of Jacob Leonard, de
ceased. On motion of Mr. Edwards,
a writ of election was issued to
the Sheriff of Jones county,
commanding him to hold an
election in said county, for a
member of the Assembly, to
supply the vacancy occasioned
by the deuth of Amos W. Sim
mons, deceased.
Messrs. Sheppard, Miller and
Polk, were appointed a commit
tee to prepare rules for the go
vernment of the House.
Tuesday, Nov. 16.
On motion of Mr. Miller, the
following standing committee
were appointed, viz:
Committee of CawzsMessrs.
VdfEdmondson, K. Martin, J
1j. Hill . . ' . . ...
Lainon, Barrow. wVlton.K
Mines,
dwards,
jSh8, MiUcr Culprpprrand
. Propositions and . Grkva:iccs-.
Mpccrc Cm-son. Sams, rolk, Alel-
chor, Williamson, Busby, Fox,
Cherry, VV. I). Barnard, lloscoe,
Cox, Underwood, Oliver, Ashe
and Al ford.
Education Messrs.Vilson,Bur
gen, Fiynt, Andrews, Scott, M'Cau
iay, Willis Alston, Stewart, Bai
ley', Hoskins, Goodman, Cowan,
McNeil and Elliot.
. .riculture Messrs. Ballcw,
McMillan, Hoover, Bodenhamcr,
Bowers, Ramsay, H. Bryan, Gary,
Ball, Stedman, Helme, Crumplcr,
Foy, McFarland and Gordon.
internal FmfirovefiierJs Messrs.
Graham, Swain, Shcppcrd, Bainc,
Tavlor,I)onoho,Gid. Alston, Drake,
Pick, Va:in, Burns, J. H. Hill,
Lam!), Matthews and Meredith.
Privild'Ts b Elections Messrs.
Miller of "Wilkes, Weaver, Beall,
Donnell, Rainev, Boon, Bynum, R.
B. Daniel, Walton, Tillett, Jarman,
Siiiimoiis,S.Miller,Tyson&Hovell.
Wednesday, Nov. 17.
A message was sent to the
Senate informing that Messrs.
Jones of Warren, Raincy, Car
son, Cowan, Watson, Iredell,
Klliott and Wilder, form the
committee of Finance on the
part of this House.
Mr. Vail presented the peti
tion of John 1). Barber of Wash
ington county, praying to be di
vorced from his wile referred
. 4, ... r
to the committee ot J. ropos
. n . 1
and Grievances.
itions
On motion of Mr. Helme, it
J was resolved, that a Select Com
mittee be appointed to enquire
! into the necessity of amending
or altering the laws of this
state relative to administrators
and executors, and that they
have leave to. report by bili or
otherwise. Messrs. Helme,
Stephen Miller,Shepperd, Scott,
and Hill, of New-Hanover, form
this committee.
On motion of Mr. Vail, it
was resolved, that a Select Com
mittee be appointed, to enquire
what amount the Trustees of the
University have recovered by
virtue of the Laws vesting es-
! cheated property in 'them for
certain purposes: what amount
.. 1 , , r -i
what amount
c , , , oc nnA
1
lio w much moncv or other cs-
. t . ,
state real or personal n
. , , , ,
hand, and in whose hands, and
' . n . ,
report to this House. Ordered
fo t-- nine Vn
(n in nn ( in I' li ft
LVJ W 1 1 1,1 IU1V
C I 1 11 1- 1
several oaiionngs iook piuce
on this and the two preceding
days, for Engrossing Clerks, but
owing to the number of eandi-
datcs (sixtccll) but on(. rccoivcd
su!ricicllt nnmber,)f votes to
h- viz. gamucl V. l'at-
of Wilkes.
Mowio mcss,s was
. , f p,.
received lrom the Wovemoi.
To the Honorable the General
Assembly of the Slate oj
North-Carolina:
Gextlemex,
Under our admirable con-
stitution, and the present wise
administration of the General
Government, wc can sincere-
v congratulate one another in
the prosperity and harmony of
every part ol our great political
union. In regard to our na
tional interests, foreign or do
mestic, there is nothing to im
prove and nothing to censure.
The expression of approbation,
which all parties are constrain
ed to make of the present ad
ministration, is an evidence of
the wisdom, and a proud com
ment on the justice and impar
tialitv of our enlightened Chiel-
Magistratc. His equanimity
and liberal views has reconciled
the two great contending parties
diffusing throughout the Ke-
public, mildness, concord and
brotherhood. His strict adher
ence to and democratic construc
tion of the Federal Constitution,
has given another happy epoch
to the Republic, of progressive
vi;diin, reputation and mctivia
ual happines3 The period of
his service will form a proud
and interesting page in our na-
tional history, and an exquisite
feast to the scrutinizing eye of;
futurity. This pleas ng view of
the Administration of our illus
trious President, induces a con
fident hope, that we, the citizens
of North-Carolina, and of the
Union also, will unanimously
support his successor, sacrificing
our animosities, and the asperi
ties oi party zeal, at the altar ot
concord, and fraternize with un
divided strength, in defence of
the constitution of olir country.
This cheering hope, Gentlemen,
cherishes a firm belief, that fac
tion, or its baleful influence, will
be excluded from our delibera
tive councils, and that we will,
dispassionately, act like brothers
of the same family, in pursuing
the general good.
I mav congratulate the Le
gislature, and the friends of In
ternal Improvements generally,
in this state, that the works in
the Cape-Fear River, both be
low and above the town ot
Wilmington, have been atten
ded, so lar, with signal success;
a success which must fully equal
the expectations of the most
sanguine, when we consider the
difiicultics which have been en
countered in their progress, and
that all works of the nature of
those at the Flats below Wil
mington, must have time to
complete their effect. From the
best information, it may be safe
ly affirmed, that all doubts of
their ultimate success, arc at an
end. There is, at present, no
difficulty in the navigation, to
any shipping which could come
nn to the port, previous to the
eiectiiv of the embankments;
and by the mere force of the
current, without the aid of drags
which were intended to be used,
the channel is evidently deepen
ing. The immense importance
ofthis work to the State, and
its evident practicability, is a
strong inducement to determine
us never to lose sight oi, or a
bandon it, until fully accom
plished. Mr. Fulton, the State Engi
neer, has succeeded in render
ing the River, above Wilming
ton, navigable for Steam Doats,
for more than sixty miles, at the
lowest water, and that too with
out the expense of jutties; and
there is no doubt, that in the
course of the next year, Steam
Boat navigation, may be atten
ded to the town of Fayettevillc,
at the lowest summer water.
The uniformity of price which
would result from the accom
plishment ofthis labour, in the
produce of the farmer, and in
the necessary articles which he
might want in return for it, such
as salt, iron, or other merchan
dize, renders these improve
ments of the greatest impor
tance to the people.
It is, also, confidently believ
ed, that the State will be able.
in the course of the two years,
to effect the navigation of the
Cape-Fear, to the junction of
the Haw and Deep Rivers.
Mr. Fulton, for the present
year, has been solely employed
by the Board of Internal Im
provements, on the waters of
Cape-Fear River, to fulfil a max
im, I believe, agreed on by ev
ery one, that it is the best pol
icy to accomplish one impor
tant object, before we begin
with another. This necessary
consequence arises lrom the
state of our funds; therefore, the
other Public Improvementes re
main in statu quo. But I must
confidently-? trust and believe,
the time is not far distant, when
the Roanoke, that proud mon
arch of streams in this State, the
Yadkin, the Ncuse, the Tar, and
every other River of respectable
magn'tude, will receive the ne
cessary improvements, to rcn-j
. f 1 A A 1 - . ff f
Uer them, completely ua via
ble, and abundantly productive
of wealth to the community, but
more especially to their imme
diate tenants.
In order to render our navi
gable streams of more extensive
and general use, and to carry
the work of improvement to ev
ery man's door, the Legislature
will. I presume, never neglect
that object of universal interest,
the improvement of Roads. Our
Rivers, Creeks and Lanais, are
the great veins and arteries of
the State; hut they are of compa
rative inutility, if we neglect to
keep open those lesser channels,
our Roads, by which sustenance
is conveyed to every part of the
great body. I he facilities oi
internal commerce are so inti
mately allied to the moral con
dition of the people, and have
so rreatan influence on the per
sonal comfortjwcalth and intelli
gence of our citizens, and con
sequently, on cur state wealth
and general aggrandizement,
that'it'has becnWith the deep
est interest and zeal that I have
uniformly invited the attention
of the General Assembly to that
subject since I have been in of
fice. The encouragement which the
Legislature has lately given to
Agriculture, augurs well for its
advancement in this State. Al
ready have numerous Agricul
tural" Societies been formed and
organized, which promise much
for its improvement. In your
deliberations, therefore, the peo
ple may confidently expect,
that this their first interest, the
foundation of their wealth and
happiness, will be ever present;
and that all your measures, in
any way related to it, will have
a view to its promotion.
It may not be amiss, Ucntie
men, to say somewhat on the
subject of Literature. It is un
questionably of vital importance
to the respectability of the State,
as well as individual prosperity
and happiness. But 1 have
harped ouitso often (and as of
ten, I presume, have my prede
cessors) that I now touch the
chord with almost hopeless ex-
pectations and frigid mdilier- oi me maie, uie cumuj
ence. But whilstl see our sis-j tain Cherokee Indians to rc
ter States' boasting of millions iservations of land in our Chcro
approprbtcd to that fund: and Ikec territory, have eilectcd a
that well organized little Re-j treaty with the claimants, by
public, Connecticut, proudly de-j which they agree to relinquish
daring that her every son and I their claims and remove from
daughter can read and write
by tlie contrast our policy forms
with their rcgulat.ons, 1 am ir
resistibly constrained to invite
your attention to the improve
ment of the minds of the rising
generation of North-Carolina.
Our Fiscal Department is in
a flourishing situation; our Trea
sury abounding in gold and sil
ver, or its adequate value, col
lected from the people, and not
one cent appropriated to the im
provement of the minds of their
children. I mean those who
have not the means to afford
their sons and daughters liberal
educations. Surely, then, we
cannot, consistent with good
policy, hesitate to create a fund,
that will assist the parents of
every denomination, to initiate
their offspring in elementary
rudiments of learning. Know
ledge, well and generally diffus
ed amongst every class of our
citizens, is the best security of
constitutional rights, and liber
ties. It will enable them to re
sist all innovations of Demago
gues or ambitious men, whose
views to the constitution are in
imical or subversive. The peo
ple are industrious and patriotic,
they cheerfully subscribe to the
necessary demands' of the state
upon their .purse, without a
murmur, They would most
acknowledge your patronage for
me iiiiMiuvemenioi hpirf,n,:
lies.
a ney nave a right lully to
anticipate your fostering care
and I cannot doubt but that the
ad antacs result
mg to society
from such measures, will claixn
your wise and well digested .
bcrality towards them.
Our Criminal Code appears to
me, to require a revision and
the scrions deliberation of tl
i 1 1 1.1 T
ueuurui vbeinoiy. i would
respectfully recommend the en
tire abolition of whipping and
cropping; anu in meir stead the
substitution cf labour. A for
mer Legislature distinguished
itselt by abolishing imprison
ment for debt, which was justly
considered a relic of feudal bar
barity and oppression. Crop
ping and whipping are among
the few which still blacken cur
Statute Book, and which our
prejudices still refuse to part
with. I would also respectful
ly suggest to the Legislature,
whether it would not be exne..
dient for Jailers in the stvu;J
counties cf the State, to enforce
labour on all persons imprisoi-.e-j
for crimes, for their jail c xpci:
pences at least. The object cf
imprisonment would, in tl::.;
way, be more fully answered,
and a large sum of money annu
ally saved to the public.
The great number of Slaves
recently emancipated in the I'
ll ited States, and thrown on the
community, without property
or regular employment, has con
straints! a considerable portion of
I these miserable people to emi
grate to the Island ot Unyli, for
protection and the blessings of
equality. Also many free per
sons of color, who never tasted
the bitter cup of slavery, have
visited that island. It is sug
gested, with much di0idcr.ee,
whether it would not be expe
dient to prevent a'return of those
emigrants to our State, as a view
of our own safety and tranquili
ty seems to require this prohib
itory measure.
The Commissioners appoint
ed agreeably to an act of the
last session of the General As
sembly, to purchase, on behalf
lands. i he J reaiy, vwuui no
honed will be satisfactory to the
General Assembly, is herewith
laid before your honorable body,
together with the Report of the
Commissioners.
In obedience to the act of the
last General Assembly, entitled
"An act concerning the Capc
Fcar Navigation company,'
the Board of Internal Improve
ments have subscribed for twen
ty five thousand dollars to the ca
pital stock of said Compa-
)" .
The Roanoke Navigatioa
Company have not yet deter
mined whether they will receive
the subscription proposed l'V
the last. General Assembly for
the purpose of locking into t.is
river at Weidon's Orchard.
My Letter Bo k, and otkr
Documents, shall be laid beiois
yon in due time.
In retiring from office, I
leave to express the grateful
knouledgements which I
cercly feel for that confidence
which the People, by t-
Representatives, have for w
last three years reposed in "ie"
The only return which 1
make them is my anxious desire
that the measures in winch .
have been-, engaged, and o
which our public and prita
welfare so much depends, ma